SYCAMORE – Although she is not a voter in the 14th district, DeKalb resident Julie Kiefer-Bell attended a town hall meeting hosted by Dennis Anderson to communicate with others about problems in Washington, D.C.

Anderson, candidate for Illinois’ 14th Congressional District, spoke Wednesday evening at the Jane Fargo Hotel, 355 W. State St., to discuss his ideas for change if elected. Kiefer-Bell, one of about 20 people in attendance, said she believes nothing is getting done in Congress and change needs to be made.

“Even if I’m not in this district, whoever is voted for is a delegate of Illinois no matter where they’re from,” she said. “I just really think it’s important to get out and learn more.”

Anderson, 63, of Gurnee, retired in 2010. In 2012, he campaigned against Republican Randy Hultgren and lost. Before his retirement, he was the assistant director of research support for Loyola University Chicago’s Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center. Earlier in his career, he was a budget and management analyst and program management and policy adviser for the Wisconsin Division of Health.

Wednesday’s town hall meeting was the 13th of 20 that Anderson has planned for the district. On Wednesday, he discussed his opposition to the death penalty, the burdens of college debt, and that he thinks it’s important for people to get back to work.

“I’m running because I’m concerned about the way the economy is recovering,” Anderson said. “If the economy isn’t working for everyone, it’s not working.”

He noted his opponent’s incumbency is an advantage for Hultgren and said it was a critical issue to get apathetic voters involved and at the polling stations.

He also discussed the divide between Democrats and Republicans.

“We all want the same things,” Anderson said. “As long as we deal with one another with facts, and respectfully, we can get things done.”

Dick Larson, a U.S. postal worker from Sycamore, liked Anderson’s “unabashed support” of the postal service.

“Hultgren is the incumbent now, so he’s identified with the obstruction in Washington,” Larson said. “Mr. Anderson has taken a stand that one of our biggest problems is just the dysfunctional systems and getting them working again in Congress.”

About Dennis Anderson

• Animal welfare advocate

• Would work to preserve/protect Social Security and Medicare

• Supports pay equity, raising minimum wage

• Supports paid sick and maternity leave

• Would work to improve Affordable Care Act

• Would work to protect small investors

Source: Dennis Anderson for Congress

Learn more

For more information about Dennis Anderson, visit dennisanderson14.com